Entering its 12th year, the annual Donate Life Run/Walk will celebrate the gift of life through organ, eye, and tissue donation with more than 12,000 people and more than 250 teams on Saturday morning, April 26, at Cal State Fullerton. The event has been dubbed the largest of its kind in the nation and occurs in concert with National Donate Life Month, which is being celebrated with cities and hospital events in coordination with OneLegacy, an organ recovery agency that serves the greater Los Angeles area.

Joining founders Kathleen and Craig Hostert (Fullerton) will be a variety of media and entertainment celebrities, including Kree Harrison, American Idol finalist; Kari Steel, KOST 103.5 radio host and mid-day host; Ysaac Alvarez, K-LOVE 107.5 Radio host; Ann Lopez, who donated a kidney to comedian George Lopez; and Phillip Palmer, KABC-TV anchor, who donated his kidney to a longtime friend. Lopez and Palmer will be available for photos with walkers and the public from 10:30 am until noon at the Marianne O’Quinn Living Donor & Recipient Village.

“We are so proud that this event continues to draw from all corners of Southern California and even beyond our state, and we are so appreciative of the busy celebrities who share their talents with us,” said the Hosterts.

“We started the Donate Life Run/Walk after Craig’s first kidney transplant as a community vehicle that would inspire as many people as possible to commit to being donors. Since that time, we have seen the California state donor registry become a reality with today showing 11 million registered donors. It’s gratifying to witness the change that donation has made in our community, our lives, and most of all in our families.”

Donation is very personal for the Hosterts, who faced Craig’s first time on dialysis more than 14 years ago. Kathleen donated her kidney to him, and in 2012 their 23-year-old son Justin donated his kidney when the need emerged again. The Donate Life Run/Walk features a variety of entertainment, recreation, food, and shopping with more than 80 exhibitors, including the Discovery Science Center Bubble Fest Exhibit.

The presenting sponsor is accounting and consulting firm Moss Adams, LLP, which has a multi-year commitment to the event. Returning sponsors include W.L. Butler Construction in Irvine; Vons Stores; OneLegacy and St. Joseph Hospital of Orange.

Elected officials and businesses from cities across the Southland will participate in the event. More than 100 cities have proclaimed April as DMV/National Donate Life in answer to the organizers’ “Mayor-athon” challenge.

“The Donate Life Run/Walk is a fitting culmination to a month of activities across the seven counties of Southern California,” stated Tom Mone, CEO of OneLegacy. “Our Ambas­sadors and local hospitals have helped OneLegacy share the life-saving and legacy-creating value of donation by raising the Donate Life flag, joining leaders in issuing Donate Life Month proclamations, and helping our neighbors to sign up to be donors. In California, we have more than 22,000 people waiting for the gift of life among the more than 122,000 on the national waiting list; YOU can save a life, register at the DMV or www.donateLIFE california.org”

For more information or to ­register to participate in the Donate Life Run/Walk, visit www.donate­liferunwalk.org. For information about OneLegacy, the organ recovery agency serving seven counties around Los Angeles, visit www. onelegacy.org. To register as a donor, visit www.donateLIFE­california.org or www.doneVIDA­california.org.